Twenty-three Iraqis killed in series of blasts

(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Twenty-three people, including seven soldiers, were killed and 45 others were injured as a result of a series of car bombings in various areas of Iraq on Wednesday.
The casualties include 16 people who were killed and 36 others injured in a spat of bomb attacks in the capital city of Baghdad, a local police officer told KUNA.
A car bomb exploded in Al-Jihad neighborhood, west of Baghdad, killing four and wounding 12 others.
The source added another explosive-laden vehicle exploded in shopping area in Al-Hadadeen district of Baghdad, killing five civilians and wounding 10 others, noting that the attack caused damage to a number of shops and cars near the scene.
A third car bomb explosion, according to the same source in Sadr City, killing six civilians and wounding 16 others, as well as serious damage to a number of shops.
Police patrols rushed to the scene and prevented civilians from approaching another for fear of being targeted by another bombing.
Meanwhile, seven Iraqi soldiers were killed and seven others were injured after two explosions rocked Babil province south of Baghdad.
The two bombs exploded near an Iraqi army convoy in the area north of Babil, according to the source.
The blasts killed seven Iraqi soldiers and wounded seven others with various injuries.